Christmas around the world

A collection of 30 Christmas recipe links from around the world as ideas to get you started on your culinary celebration

Steve Manfredi: Roast turkey breast with chestnut stuffing Aussie (Italian) chef Stefano Manfredi separates the breast.

Gary Rhodes: A very British Christmas Xanthe Clay joins chef Gary Rhodes as he recreates the magic of the festive feast - from turkey stuffed with pistachios to brussels sprouts with maple syrup.

Benjamin Christie: An Australian twist on the traditional Christmas Turkey

Neil Perry: BBQ marinated quail, chicken, duck and with preserved lemon and harissa

Roast Quail with Grapes and Chestnuts Adapted from Restaurant Nicholas Le Bec, Lyon, France

Christmas Eve Baccala

Antonio Carlucci: Eel Baked with Bay Leaves This typical Venetian recipe is traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve. It originates from the Comacchio Valley, south of Chioggia, where the eels are wonderful and fat.

Tristan Welch: Christmas Cured Salmon

Karen Martini: Crayfish salad a la Rousse with saffron

Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall: Glazed Baked Ham & Figs

Christine Manfield: Blue Swimmer Crab Shaved Coconut and Mint Salad with Fried Shallots

Luke Nguyen: Family Steamboat

Will Studd: Baked Clarines

Silvano Franco: Almondy Mince Pies

Rebecca Varidel: Mum's Christmas Pudding We've been trying to trace back how long this recipe has been handed down in the family. We can trace it back at least 80 years, and it probably has been used as this recipe, for even longer than that.

Classic Christmas Cake This, with no apologies, is a Christmas cake that has been in print since 1978, has been made and loved by thousands and is one of the most popular recipes Delia Smith has ever produced.

Guillaume Brahimi: Christmas Tree Icecream

Classic Buche de Noel

German Christmas Gingerbread Cake

Gingerbread Men

Old-fashioned Christmas Stollen

Panforte Di Siena

Mario Batali: Panettone

Joulupuuro Finnish Christmas Rice Porridge

Alton Brown: Eggnog

Traditional Gluhwein

Pierre Herme’s Caramel Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

Christmas Cracker cocktail

Nigella Lawson: Christmas Cookie Decorations

Jamie Oliver: Christmas Vegetables

10 LAMB recipe links

Spring Lamb Navarin from Romeo Baudouin (Victor Churchill - Vic's Meat)

Lamb Shanks with egg and lemon sauce (Claudia Roden)

Oven Roasted Lamb Chops with Mint Chimichurri (Chef Luke Mangan)

Slow cooked Lamb with Artichokes (Stephanie Alexander)

Rack of Lamb with Honey (Chef Gary Rhodes)

Lamb Balti (Jamie Oliver)

Irish Stew (Richard Corrigan)

Lamb Shank Pasties (Tom Norrington-Davies)

Grilled Lamb Steaks with Persillade (Anthony Bourdain)

Ivan's Neck of Lamb (Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall)

FUNDRAISING cupcakes

When I was a child, one of the things I delighted in was going to the local fete (or fair). And, one of the delights for tiny hands (and tiny mouth) at the fete, was 'cupcakes'!

Next Friday night 28th August is CupCakeCamp Sydney @cccsyd to raise money for the RSPCA. Please join us at CBS Interactive Lvl 12/ 50 Goulburn St, Sydney NSW 2000 Show map...

REGISTER HERE we need people to MAKE (cook and decorate) cupcakes and people to EAT cupcakes ... if you're cooking here are a few ideas to get you started ...

This is mum's Competition Patty Cakes recipe - and here are some others that were contributed or discovered:

Peanut Butter cupcakes and a Full Cupcake Week from fujimama

Vampire Cupcakes

Sparkly_Tiara found Cupcake kebabs

10 Interestingly Unique Cupcakes

and ozquilter made Himalayan Goji Berry Chocolate Cupcakes topped with Chocolate Ganache and Himalayan Pink Salt for the RSPCA cupcake day at her work "As a team building exercise for our work we decided to participate in the Cupcake Day for the RSPCA there’s a lot of keen people who want to eat them, but very few who want to make them, so I’ll be busy making cupcakes this weekend. The theme for the cupcakes is ‘animal’ so I thought chocolate and berry butterfly cakes would work well, mind you, I haven’t baked cupcakes in ages (wont say how long) and so this will be an interesting experiment in small cake making for me. We’re also in the process of moving house and ALL my cookery books are packed so I searched the interweb and found this recipe to try"

and the last word ... I of course most usually bake a 'big' cake (not 'little' cakes) and so will turn any favourite cake recipe into cupcakes for a good cause (just reduce the cooking time)

other CRUMBLES

There's a post to MY crumble topping (or should I say mum's crumble topping) here:

My Rhubarb and Apple Crumble

And here's a list of OTHER crumble recipe links for you to cook and enjoy:

Apple and Rhubarb Crumble with Hazelnuts (Chef Luke Mangan)

Apple Pear and Walnut Crumble (Chef Gary Rhodes)

Blueberry Crumble Pie (Leite's Culinaria)

Custard Apple Crumble with Lemon Myrtle Creme Anglaise (Maggie Beer)

Fig Crumble

Fresh Nectarine Crumble (Stephanie Alexander)

Plum Crumble (Bill Granger)

Quince Apple and Armagnac Prune Crumble

Raspberry Crumble Bake

heard it on the grapevine ...

Baked ricotta in vine leaf with baguette crisps

Baked Salmon Stuffed And Wrapped In Grape Vine Leaves Recipe

Dolmades - Stuffed Vine Leaves - with Ground Beef

Koupepia Stuffed Vine Leaves - Cypriot - with Lamb

Marinated Goats Cheese Vine Leave Parcels

Roasted Sardine in Vine Leaves

Stuffed Vine Leaves - Vegetarian

Stuffed Vine Leaves Yalangi Recipe

Vine Leaf-Wrapped Sheep's-Milk Ricotta with Fennel and Olives

Yoghurt Pie with Vine Leaves

10 WAYS with DUCK

Canard a l'orange (Julia Child):
http://www.cyber-kitchen.com/ubbs/archive/POULTRY/Duck_Roasted_w_Orange_Sauce_Canard_a_lorange.htm

Crispy-skin duck with blood plum sauce (Kylie Kwong):
http://www.abc.net.au/kyliekwong/recipes/s952372.htm

Duck risotto:
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/13181/duck+risotto

Grilled duck breast, baked figs with vinacotta (Stephanie Alexander):
http://www.cuisine.com.au/recipe/Grilled-duck-breast-baked-figs-and-vincotto

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall roast duck:
http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/domestic-roast-duck-recipe_p_1.html

Peking duck:
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/poultryrecpz/r/pekingduck.htm

(or this quicker version)
http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/517019

Roasted duck breast with red cabbage and homemade mustard fruits (Angela Hartnett):
http://www.lifestylefood.com.au/recipes/931/roasted-duck-breast-with-red-cabbage-and-homemade-mustard-fruits

Slow honey roasted duck (Gary Rhodes):
http://www.west175productions.com/gfseason3/recipes/recipe004.htm

Stock:
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/19584/duck+stock

Tender braised duck with pomegranate molasses:
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5107/tender-braised-duck-with-pomegranate-molasses

QUINOA videos, twitter tips and recipe links

The Incas held the crop to be sacred and referred to quinoa as "chisaya mama" or "mother of all grains".

Quinoa is closely related to species such as beets, spinach and tumbleweeds. The leaves can also be eaten as a leaf vegetable but are currently not widely available commercially.

INTRODUCTION VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7uvygMiwfo&feature=fvw

Use as an alternative in any recipes where you would use white rice or couscous.

The Basic Quinoa Recipe

1 1/2 cups water
1 cup quinoa

Place quinoa and water in a 3 pint saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until all the water is absorbed (about 15 minutes). You will know that the quinoa is done when all the grains have turned from white to transparent, and the spiral-like germ has separated. Makes 3 cups.

TWITTER TIPS and FOOD BLOGGER LINKS:

@paigedansinger if you roast your quinoa in your pot first before adding water...it imparts fabulous nutty rich taste...Once tried cannot go back! ... make your tabouli with quinoa! Also great cold in a salad, or with avocado drizzled in olive oil... Endless uses, all amazing!!!!

Have fun with it!! Roast chicken with it, mix in a pilaf, mix it in scrambled eggs, put it in waffle mix, purée for babyfood..

@smittytabb Quinoa - what a great food it is. Learned so much about it in Ecuador where you can see it growing everywhere along the roads

Black bean and quinoa chili
http://closetcooking.blogspot.com/2008/07/black-bean-and-quinoa-chili.html

Crusted Mahi Mahi and quinoa with vegetables (@savorthethyme )http://savorthethyme.blogspot.com/2009/06/fast-frugal-friday-crusted-mahi-mahi_26.html

Kale wrap with quinoa, adzuki beans and avocado (@ilikegranola )
http://www.ilikegranola.com/2009/06/23/recipe-kale-wrap-with-quinoa-adzuki-beans-and-avocado/

Quinoa and asparagus chowder
http://www.newtaste.com/quinoachowder.html

Quinoa and black bean salad with smoky lime dressing
http://superspark.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/quinoa-and-black-bean-salad-with-smoky-lime-dressing/

Sweet potato and quinoa salad (@recessionrecipe)
http://recessionrecip.es/2009/06/25/a-week-of-salads-part-4-southwestern-sweet-potato-and-quinoa-salad/

RECIPE LINKS:

Butternut squash chilli with quinoa
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4888/butternut-squash-chilli-with-quinoa

Organic quinoa cornbread
https://www.organicuniverse.com/organicforum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=21

Quinoa, herb and pomegranate salad
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4545/quinoa-herb-and-pomegranate-salad

Quinoa rice pilau with dill and roasted tomatoes
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1607/quinoa-rice-pilau-with-dill-and-roasted-tomatoes

Red quinoa, feta and spinach salad
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8176/red-quinoa-feta-and-spinach-salad

Spicy vegetable and quinoa laksa
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2577/spicy-vegetable-and-quinoa-laksa

recipe collection http://www.quinoa.net/181.html includes pilaf, tabouli, lasagne, croquettes